Boracay-themed Birthday Party

I brought back the Boracay fever to my family as we celebrated Mami and Papi's birthday at the beach. To really have the feel of Boracay, we all wore my pasalubong shirts.

It was a joint celebration since their birthdays are just a day apart. Now I call that destiny. Hehe.

It was also Caela's first beach experience and of course everyone was excited. She got her first swimsuit and first salbabida ever!

She was at first not so comfortable as we often are when dealing with first-times. But by the time she found fun and joy, it was hard getting her out of the water anymore. Good that she had many yaya's to look after her. Who would get tired taking care of such an adorable and smart little kiddo. Proud tita here! :)

We have an Ilonggo blood. My four siblings and I have grown to call our mother and father, Mamang and Papang. But these past few years, we've unconsciously shifted to Mami and Papi. I did not know how it happened but it sounded more malambing, yes? :)

Happy birthday to the most groovy granny and popsy ever! :) We love you! Hmmmmmm...

Oh My Gosh, I'm in Boracay! (Day 3)

My last day in Boracay was spent as pasalubong day! So please understand if I forgot all about my camera and just focused on how to stick within my budget. I was only planning to buy tons of keychains for everyone because I felt I only could afford that given my tight budget. But of course, what would I expect? It was Boracay. Lots of foreigners. Locals could talk English. Baka dollars ang mga goods. Baka isang keychain, $2.

To my surprise, the Talipapa offered so much cheaper than what I had imagined. Yipee! So I upgraded my pasalubong from keychains to shirts! Boracay shirts for every member of the family including little Caela! I even got myself a shirt, too (first time). :) Plus a bag as a birthday present for my mother. How awesome could that get! I was feeling in super shopping mode even on a budget. 

Aries girls on February 2011...

Aries girls on October 2012...

You two are the reason why I believe in deep friendship so much. Words may not be spoken but the heart never stops loving. I love you both! And I will miss you again Ate My! :) 

All my bags are packed. I'm ready to go. You made me fall inlove with you, Boracay! Til next time.

This was the vacation we deserved friends. I wouldn't be able to have the same joy if it were not you that I spent it with. Haha! I sound like in an awards night giving thank you speech. So I'd like to continue this awards mode by giving due recognition to my friends. 

Best in Negotiating and Talking-To-the-Locals Award

Best in Reading Waivers Award

Best in This-is-a-Vacation-Moment Award

ATE MY

Best in Swimsuit Award (as always)

Best in Watching-the-Sunset and Taking-Best-Photos-of-It Award

Best in Reminiscing-Those-Days-in-Boracay Award

LAIZA

Best in Ilonggo Award

Best in Talking-With-Bus-Strangers Award

Best in Being-A-Nice-and-Kind-Younger-Brother Award (by default)

RENDON

Best in Solo Shots Award

Best in Don't-Talk-To-Me-I'm-Hungry Award

Best Hot Momma Award (by default)

ATE DOLI

Best in Panic and Paranoia Award

EMS

I only gave myself one award so as not to appear biased being the only member of this award giving body. :) 

Photo Credits: Ate My, Laiza, Ate Doli

Oh My Gosh, I'm in Boracay! (Day 2)

The beach is at its utmost beauty at dawn. I woke up early on day 2 to witness a Boracay morning. The sun was already up when I went out so it wasn't really dawn anymore but the beach was extra beautiful. I was joined by Ate Doli and Rendon while the other two sleeping beauties were... well, sleeping. :)

One thing I love about mornings is its serenity. It is when I really feel grateful for my life. 

Along the way, we saw people jogging. Others just walking (like us). But sometimes we jogged for a minute then stopped. Then jogged again trying to chase other joggers. :) We walked for about an hour then got tired and hungry so we took a tricycle ride back. Haha!

When everyone was set, we decided to start the day with a parasailing. We needed to ride a speed boat to reach the center of the sea.

Me: Wear your life jackets. Check the ropes.

Ate My: Read the waiver before you sign.

Ate Doli: Let's pose for some pictures. Make sure everything is documented. Then take my solo shot.

That was cool! Being up in the air was always cool. Everything was even more amazing from up there. And I needed not to do anything but sit, be moved by the wind, and be amazed. Wondering if you could also do parasailing? Take it from the not-so-adventurous me. You definitely can!

Next, island hopping. Actually, it was more like boating and sight-seeing. The waves were not participating with our urge to go to the other islands so we did not take the risk. 

Laiza: What about Puka Beach? What about Crystal Cove? Can we not go there?

Rendon: Kaya na ya! (Ilonggo intonation) (We can do it!)

Ate My: Safety first.

Me: Yah! Safety first. Now, wear your life jackets. Laiza, Rendon where are your life jackets?

Laiza: It's choking me. I don't want to wear it.

Rendon: Kainit tana ya. Indi man takon magsuksok. (Ilonggo again) (It's so hot. I don't want to wear it, too.)

Ate Doli: I'll wear mine later... after picture. Don, picture... One more. This side. This view. Ok. Give me the life jacket.

Haha! Ate Doli, you already! (Ikaw na!)

Part of the tour was the snorkeling. I did not snorkel but I jumped out of the boat for a photo op :) I love being in the water. Too bad I can't swim. Thanks to my life saver life jacket I somehow can manage to have fun. :)

Guide: There's another snorkeling site ahead.

Laiza: I'm already hungry.

Ate My: Let's have lunch first.

Me: Yes! Lunch time!

Rendon: Woohoo! Kaon gid man ta anay. (No he's not eating a termite. He means it's really about time to eat.)

Ate Doli: _______________ (No words. Blank face.)

That meant she was very hungry. Good we were on a motor boat. She would have paddled her way to the next island for lunch. If we were on land, she would have left us and hurried her way to Mang Inasal. Haha! We'd know her stomach was well satisfied if she got her camera again and take pictures. :)

After lunch, we continued the boating and had landed the shores early enough to do another thing on the checklist. Puka Beach.

The waves were crazy! But I loved watching them reach the shore. I loved their roars. Puka Beach is one of those preserved beaches of Boracay - non commercial, so natural. 

Koreans were everywhere in Boracay. They usually went in groups composed of couples - the matchy-matchy couples. So cute! If not matching in shirts, it's the shorts. Sometimes both. Love them! We met a group in Puka and they wanted to take a photo with us. It paid to watch Korean movies. I knew how to say hi, "Annyeonghaseyo!" And after, we said, "Kamsahamnida!" That meant thank you. Oh yeah! So that's how it felt speaking in a foreign language and being understood. Loved that!

Finally, during the night after a dinner buffet, we walked miles to watch a fire dance show. I had high respect for fire dancers after watching them. Truly a great job entertaining your guests at your own lives' risk. I was definitely impressed!

That was one full happy day!

Photo credits: Ate My, Laiza, Ate Doli

Oh My Gosh, I'm in Boracay! (Day 1)

While it was raining in other parts of Panay Island, Boracay had a fairly sunny day. The sun was not so strong giving room for the clouds to balance the elegance of the skies. It was a perfect weather for my very first day in Boracay.

First up, we met up with Ate My who arrived from Manila the day before. We met again after almost two years and I was more than glad to spend that vacation with her. After lunch and check-in, we headed to the beach and started adoring the island.

"Oh my gosh, I'm in Bora!" This was the line I've been waiting to exclaim for months. I was repeating the statement until the next day when Ate My and Laiza corrected me because they saw signs reminding people to refrain from using the short cut. Using Bora instead of Boracay might hurt our tourism because there's another island somewhere in Polynesia called Bora Bora. Let's spread the news! :) And so, I had to restate my line but with the same (or even more) intense conviction, "Oh my gosh, I'm in Boracay!"

I didn't have expectations whatsoever unlike in my other trips. I was ready to embrace anything. But my friends have checklists! "Ok, so what's on your list? Let's do it!" Laiza originally wanted to spend the whole afternoon at Puka Beach so I decided to dress up a little bit. But the others screamed to try ATV! Ooopss... Was I not overly dressed? Haha! Never mind. Bring it on!

And so I did try riding the ATV. In fact, I had a flawless first round during the trial but I almost hit the piles of tires during the second round. Maybe I was 3 or 5 feet away from the tires. Not so close, right? But I panicked. Then I got out of the ATV and watched my friends finish their course. Then I was ecstatic to try again. I knew I wanted to do it. I told the crew I wanted to take the test again. But one started talking about not having insurance if I get an accident or if I get the vehicle a scratch. His tone sounded so unfriendly and his voice raised. Ok, I got his point. But did I not ask calmly? I knew it was part of his job but what he did was more than a warning. It really got into my nerves. 

There was no more time for me to learn. My friends were ready to go and besides, my heart was pumping all my blood to my head. My blood circulation was not normal anymore. I settled on joining the guide in a buggy (seemed like a bump car). I also did not want to pop my friends' bubbles by not joining the activity but I was still pissed upset while they were very focused on their rides. We stopped by a zoo and they were screaming excitedly with a monkey and a bayawak while I chose to sit and wait refusing to be photographed.

The next stop was an overview of the island where I started taking pictures because the view was just so amazing! 

I then agreed to join the girls for a photo. They were all smiling while I was still not ready to put a smile on my face but since I did not want to put up another awkward scenario, I posed with them. When I saw the photo after feeling a whole lot better, I laughed at myself! I should have just grinned a little. My face was so in contrast with their overwhelming smiles. Haha! But no, I'm not showing it to you. You'll make fun of me. You'll forget all about my happy faces and just remember the photo for the rest of your life and maybe you'll use it to pick on me. Haha! You still wanna see it? Hmmmm... Ok, for the sake of the story, here it goes...

Haha! I know. I know. The face of an upset girl in the middle of having-the-time-of-their-lives faces. :) Thank you friends for the decency of not posting this photo and giving me the honor instead. And thank you for knowing how to deal with my not-so-good moments. It means a lot. :)

After the ATV, we went back to the beach and waited for the sunset. Thanks to Boracay's beautiful sunset, I got reflective. Then I was ok. I started laughing. I took part in conversations. Then I got back to my normal state. :)

Lessons of the day:

1. When you have a passion but you know deep in yourself that you lack the potential, give in (at least at that moment). You'll have many other times to learn and try again.

2. Forgive. Forgive others and forgive yourself. There are really not-so-good days but it doesn't make you any less.

3. Stick with the group on all activities no matter what. You don't want them running after you and thinking about your issues when you're just really fine and the issues will just fly by anytime soon.

4. Smile on photos even when you don't feel like it or else you'll end up looking awkward and foolish. :) Learn the celebrities' trick then you can pout all over again when the camera is not on you.

5. Vacation is a blessing. Live the moment.

Photo Credits: Ate My, Laiza, Ate Doli

To Boracay With Love

Dear Boracay,

I've been so near you several times in the past but I did not dare see you because I thought you were just another white sand beach... just another blue waters... just another island. But you are more than just that. You truly are extraordinary. You are a PARADISE. No wonder you are world-renowned. 

I admit it wasn't love at first sight. Seeing your shores for the first time didn't impress me much but exploring you more changed my heart. Maybe I was just hungry during my arrival. :)

Your waters were crystal blue. I didn't need a high end camera to take perfect photos because you already are perfect. I didn't need effects. You look beautiful on your own.

I love you even more at dawn because you're at your calmest. And your air is at its freshest. I love walking by your shores seeing people adoring you, too. 

They say you have the most lovely sunset. Everyone was sitting on the shore waiting for the sun to embrace your horizon. You did not fail us. You did not fail me. I was so glad I experienced that.

The houses/hotels on your hills were exceptional. They looked gorgeous from the sea. I wonder how the view looks like from up there.

Your sand is definitely not the ordinary white sand. They're powder-like. They're so fine. I love playing with them. Your famous sand-castles at night is another thing I love.

Your people are very knowledgeable about you. I'm impressed! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. Maybe that's why it's so easy to get around and through you.

I wanted to just call you Bora. It felt like endearing to me. I didn't know I was doing you wrong so forgive me for that. Calling you just Bora may hurt you because you may think I'm referring to '"someone" else when all I'm really thinking about is you. So from now on, I'm calling you by your full name - Boracay.

Boracay, I didn't know what you did to me. I didn't know what spell you cast on me. I don't normally fall in love easily. But you really got me so into you. :) Had I known you'd capture my heart like this, I should have not just passed you by before. I will definitely see you again in the future.

Stay naturally beautiful!

Ems